Zimpapers Logo

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
Two Zanu-PF Youth League senior executives have been accused of stealing one tonne of sugar donated by a local company towards President Mugabe’s 90th birthday celebrations last month.The company donated two tonnes of sugar for the 21st February Movement celebrations to mark the President’s birthday at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera, but only one tonne was accounted for.

Politburo member Cde Edison Chakanyuka, who is the deputy secretary for the Youth League, and Central Committee member Cde Innocent Hamandishe, the secretary for Indigenisation in the Youth League, together with two more party officials allegedly stole the sugar that was kept at the party headquarters.

The sugar was donated through the Youth League headed by Cde Absolom Sikhosana and the management committee of the celebrations.
Cde Sikhosana said the matter was an internal issue.

“I don’t know anything about that,” he said. “Where did you get that from? Those are internal matters. I have no comment.”
But a source confirmed that the youths leaders were implicated in the case.

“Chakanyuka was given responsibility to look after the sugar at the party headquarters,” said a source. “He then assigned Hamandishe, Edmore Samambwa, the Midlands Provincial Youth League chairperson; and Innocent Makuyana, who is deputy secretary for Lands in the Youth League, to take one tonne of sugar to their cars.

“It is not known where they took the sugar to. But Sikhosana had to declare one tonne to President Mugabe because he did not want him to know that some people had stolen his sugar.”

Another source added: “Security personnel at the party have implicated the four. Cde Sikhosana has since written a letter to the accused so that they answer to the charges.

“They will be appearing before the youth leadership and management committee next week. Some comrades wanted to cover up the case, but they have been forced to act on it because some youths are insisting that action must be  taken.

“It is not the first time that some youths have stolen gifts meant for the President. They have been doing this for some time, but without tangible action being taken.”